Mija,
I want to congratulate you on your engagement. As a father, it makes me really happy to see my beautiful baby girl all grown up, but it also pains me at the same time at the thought of marrying you off.
I still remember the moment when you came into the world. I was at your mother's side, holding her hand, as she delivered a tiny five and a half pound baby. Because you were born premature, the doctors rushed your fragile little body to an incubator soon after. From the NICU, you looked at us with your big brown eyes, smiling. For me, it was love at first sight.
You inspired me to accept the promotion to detective, to protect all three of my precious girls.
At first, your mom and I were worried that you might have development problems, but those concerns were needless. You grew to normal weight fast, and doctors confirmed that you were as healthy as any other child. As a baby, you rarely cried, and slept through most nights. It was truly a blessing for us, when we had a completely different experience a year earlier.
Growing up, you were the most perfect child we could ever ask for. Trina was boisterous, running around endlessly and shrieking loudly to demand our attention all the time, but you were the complete opposite. You would happily spend your days with your nose buried in a book or singing along to the cartoons on the television, and we never had to worry about you.
Then came the middle and high school period. You brought several of your boyfriends home, and I admit that I was harsh on them, but it wasn't for no good reason. I didn't really fancy becoming an abuelito when you were just a teen, having seen too much of such unfortunate situations in my line of work.
I also want to apologize for being mostly absent during your later high school years. Your sister's drama was getting too much for me to handle on a daily basis, and your mom and I were always planning escapades from the house. There was this one time she gave me a black nose, causing it to bleed and throb during a mini golf session that I'm not sure if you remember, and that was when it became apparent to me then that she did not need my protection, being able to handle herself very well. But you were still that vulnerable little girl in my eyes, and I was glad we still got to have our father-daughter talks when we go back to San Juan every year.
When you told me during one of these talks that you were in love with a girl from school, I was shocked, to say the least. You had always dated boys previously, and I didn't think you would be interested in people of your gender. But it gave me the temporary peace of mind that you would at least be safe from teen pregnancies.
Horrified would be the first word that came to my mind, however, when you brought your girlfriend home for the first time. I knew that Jade had a temper, and the girl had a few brushes with the law previously, for threatening others with a deadly weapon. While it won't show up in her record as she was still considered a juvenile, I became fearful for your safety, for being with such a dangerous person.
I'm sure you'd remember the fight between us when I tried to talk you out of the relationship with her, but you refused. It was the first time I ever raised my voice at you, and I am sure it was a first for you too, having always been the good, obedient daughter.
But the both of you proved me wrong.
Jade mellowed after being together with you. She turned from a sulking teenager to a mature young woman with a sharp tongue, and there were no more complaints about her at the station ever since you two got together. While she could still be spiky on occasions, I can see that she makes you smile, and you temper her in return.
Most importantly, I know that you will be in safe hands with her.
Your papá can't wait to walk you down the aisle, and add another precious girl to our family.
¡Felicitaciones por tu compromiso! Espero que ambas sean muy felices juntas.
Love always,
Tu papá
A/N: IJ - Thanks for the correction! My spanish really sucks but I'm trying!
